Finland | The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/finland
Latest news and features from theguardian.com, the world's leading liberal voiceen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2018Tue, 20 Nov 2018 00:10:33 GMT2018-11-20T00:10:33Zen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2018The Guardianhttps://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.pnghttps://www.theguardian.com
Make America Rake Again: Finland baffled by Trump's forest fire raking claimhttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/19/make-america-rake-again-finland-trump-forest-fire
<p>Social media users mock US president’s insistence on Finnish forest defence method</p><p>The people of Finland have reacted with bemusement on social media at Donald Trump’s assertions that the country rakes its forests to help prevent forest fires.</p><p>Speaking on Saturday in Paradise, California, about the role of forest management in stemming wildfires, Trump said: “I was with the president of Finland and he said: ‘We have, much different, we are a forest nation.’ He called it a forest nation. And they spend a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things, and they don’t have any problem.”</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Not on my watch!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rakenews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rakenews</a> <a href="https://t.co/SOt8LHQZjt">pic.twitter.com/SOt8LHQZjt</a></p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I grew up in Finland. a) it rains all year round. b) we have a lengthy and cold winter. c) Finland is a sparsely populated country with just over 5mil ppl, with land size ~3/4 of CA and most of it forests and lakes. d) no friggin body is raking the forests.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/17/california-fire-evacuees-trump-visit">'He can kiss my red ass': California fire evacuees give Trump visit short shrift</a> </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Make America Rake Again. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MARA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MARA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Finland?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Finland</a> <a href="https://t.co/rpabRtT5yo">pic.twitter.com/rpabRtT5yo</a></p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Incidentally, the most popular Finnish record of all times is about raking as well. The title song ”I Raked All of This” was to be purchased by everybody according to law. <a href="https://t.co/c6Cvg9R93O">pic.twitter.com/c6Cvg9R93O</a></p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In central Helsinki, an illuminated sign reminds us of our duty to rake. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rakenews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#rakenews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/finland?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#finland</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/californiafires?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#californiafires</a> <a href="https://t.co/XlYemqJEhN">pic.twitter.com/XlYemqJEhN</a></p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here in Finland we rake the forests even in winter, just in case.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rakenews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#rakenews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RakeAmericaGreatAgain?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RakeAmericaGreatAgain</a> <a href="https://t.co/XAjZpgWEbw">pic.twitter.com/XAjZpgWEbw</a></p><p lang="und" dir="ltr"> <a href="https://t.co/fjKzscPwF2">pic.twitter.com/fjKzscPwF2</a></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/19/make-america-rake-again-finland-trump-forest-fire">Continue reading...</a>Donald TrumpFinlandSocial mediaEuropeUS newsWorld newsTrees and forestsWildfiresEnvironmentNatural disasters and extreme weatherMon, 19 Nov 2018 12:07:14 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/19/make-america-rake-again-finland-trump-forest-firePhotograph: Pablo Martínez Monsiváis/APPhotograph: Pablo Martínez Monsiváis/APMartin Belam and agencies2018-11-19T12:07:14ZRussia denies disrupting GPS signals during Nato Arctic exerciseshttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/12/russia-denies-blame-for-arctic-gps-interference
<p>Finnish PM says disruption during military exercises was ‘almost certainly deliberate’</p><p>Russia has denied being behind recent disruption to GPS signals across Lapland after Finland’s prime minister said the interference put civil aviation at risk and was “almost certainly deliberate”.</p><p>The Finnish prime minister, Juha Sipilä told the state broadcaster Yle on Sunday that authorities were still investigating who was responsible.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/12/russia-denies-blame-for-arctic-gps-interference">Continue reading...</a>RussiaFinlandNorwayNatoEuropeWorld newsMon, 12 Nov 2018 17:34:17 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/12/russia-denies-blame-for-arctic-gps-interferencePhotograph: Frederik Ringnes/Forsvaret HANDOUT/EPAPhotograph: Frederik Ringnes/Forsvaret HANDOUT/EPAAgence France-Presse in Helsinki2018-11-12T17:34:17ZEU seeks commission president wannabes to replace Jean-Claude Junckerhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/08/centre-right-candidates-contend-for-top-eu-job-to-replace-juncker
<p>European People’s party backs German MEP to lead European commission after Juncker</p><p>Europe’s largest political group, the centre-right European People’s party, has chosen the long-serving German MEP Manfred Weber as its candidate to lead the European commission – one of the top jobs in the EU.</p><p>Weber, who was backed by the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, is the favourite to lead the commission, the powerful executive that drafts and enforces EU law, but he exceeded expectations, capturing 80% of 619 party delegate votes.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/08/centre-right-candidates-contend-for-top-eu-job-to-replace-juncker">Continue reading...</a>European commissionEuropean UnionJean-Claude JunckerGermanyFinlandViktor OrbánEuropeWorld newsPoliticsThu, 08 Nov 2018 17:00:33 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/08/centre-right-candidates-contend-for-top-eu-job-to-replace-junckerPhotograph: Kimmo Brandt/EPAPhotograph: Kimmo Brandt/EPAJennifer Rankin in Helsinki2018-11-08T17:00:33ZClass, critics and how to load cutlery | Brief lettershttps://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/oct/28/class-critics-and-how-to-load-cutlery
Education | Cicely Berry | Philip Green’s knighthood | Peterloo | How to load dishwashers<p>Larry Elliott (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/25/trust-equal-gap-rich-poor-inequality" title="">Report</a>, 25 October) singles out Sweden as being both highly competitive and egalitarian, but does not mention Finland, where private education has been abolished. This is surely the way out of our class-ridden education system that wastes so much of our precious young talent instead of training the skilled workforce we need.<br><strong>Margaret Phelps</strong><br><em>Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan</em></p><p>• Cis, as everyone knew her, gave the best and most profound advice to a young playwright in Stratford-upon-Avon (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2018/oct/18/cicely-berry-obituary" title="">Cicely Berry obituary</a>, 27 October). Whether we were discussing critics, directors, actors, or audiences, she would say: “Fuck them all, darling, fuck them all.” It felt like a blessing from Mount Olympus. She’ll be missed.<br><strong>Nick Dear</strong><br><em>London</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/oct/28/class-critics-and-how-to-load-cutlery">Continue reading...</a>EducationPrivate schoolsSchoolsSwedenFinlandTheatreStageSir Philip GreenTheresa MayPoliticsBrexitArticle 50UK newsEuropean UnionForeign policySun, 28 Oct 2018 17:36:11 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/oct/28/class-critics-and-how-to-load-cutleryPhotograph: tatyana_tomsickova/Getty Images/iStockphotoPhotograph: tatyana_tomsickova/Getty Images/iStockphotoLetters2018-10-28T17:36:11ZLife expectancy is rising in Finland – unlike in the UK. What’s going right? | Annika Koljonenhttps://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/17/life-expectancy-rising-finland-uk-scandinavia
<p>Scandinavian countries spend more on public services and excel in preventive health. They should beware the British model</p><p>Earlier this week, a new report from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health warned that infant mortality in the UK could be 140% higher by 2030 than in comparatively wealthy countries if current trends continue. <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/childhealth/articles/ukdropsineuropeanchildmortalityrankings/2017-10-13" title="">Infant mortality rates are already twice as high as in Finland</a>. There are also big gaps between the UK and Finland on rising life expectancy. Life expectancy has <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/lifeexpectancies/bulletins/nationallifetablesunitedkingdom/2015to2017" title="">stopped rising</a> in the UK, and is now actually falling across much of the country. In stark contrast, Office for National Statistics figures show that out of 20 comparator countries, Finland has experienced the <a href="https://theconversation.com/improving-life-expectancy-used-to-be-the-uks-forte-now-its-falling-behind-101573" title="">largest increase</a> in improvements in life expectancy for men since 2010, and Finnish women’s life expectancy has also consistently risen.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/07/universal-basic-income-rich-finland-work-benefits">Universal basic income hasn’t made me rich. But my life is more enriching | Tuomas Muraja</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/20/finns-are-happy-because-every-citizen-is-equal-readers-on-living-in-finland">'Finns are happy because every citizen is equal': readers on living in Finland</a> </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/17/life-expectancy-rising-finland-uk-scandinavia">Continue reading...</a>FinlandLife expectancyUK newsEuropeWorld newsHealthSocietyHealth policyPublic services policyPoliticsWed, 17 Oct 2018 11:47:22 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/17/life-expectancy-rising-finland-uk-scandinaviaPhotograph: Kimmo Brandt/EPAPhotograph: Kimmo Brandt/EPAAnnika Koljonen2018-10-17T11:47:22ZDeveloping nations 'making strides in cutting rich-poor gap'https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2018/oct/09/worlds-poorest-nations-making-strides-cutting-rich-poor-gap
<p> Namibia and Uruguay among states to reduce inequality on many measures, index shows</p><p>Some of the world’s poorest countries are making strides in reducing the gap between rich and poor, according to an index of inequality devised by Oxfam. Namibia and Uruguay are among a clutch of developing-world countries to reduce inequality through a wide range of measures, including social spending and progressive taxation.</p><p>Oxfam said the efforts of some poorer countries contrasted with the policies of wealthier developing world nations such as India and Nigeria, which have either failed to tackle inequality or allowed it to worsen.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/06/as-global-poverty-declines-we-should-beware-new-class-wars">As global poverty declines, we should beware the new class wars | Kenan Malik</a> </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2018/oct/09/worlds-poorest-nations-making-strides-cutting-rich-poor-gap">Continue reading...</a>InequalityOxfamWorld newsUruguayNamibiaAfricaAmericasDevelopment dataSocietyPovertyDenmarkGermanyFinlandAustriaUK newsAustralia newsSloveniaCroatiaItalySouth AfricaEuropeTue, 09 Oct 2018 06:00:26 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2018/oct/09/worlds-poorest-nations-making-strides-cutting-rich-poor-gapPhotograph: Alamy Stock PhotoPhotograph: Alamy Stock PhotoPhillip Inman2018-10-09T06:00:26ZHow the Finnish lifestyle of getting drunk while wearing pants became the new hyggehttps://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/oct/07/how-the-finnish-liftestyle-of-getting-drunk-while-wearing-pants-became-the-new-hygge
<p>Many of us are familiar with the idea of stripping to our pants, opening a beer and watching TV. But in Finland ‘Pantsdrunk’ has been elevated to an official activity</p><p>It’s been a long day: one meeting after another. You leave your office, happy the working day is finally over. You could head out, network until the early hours, but somehow it doesn’t appeal. What you need, more than anything, is to relax and de-stress.</p><p>You might be tempted to turn to the popular Scandinavian antidotes to stress, <em>lagom</em> and <em>hygge</em>. But are they really any good? Lagom, a Swedish word, can be translated as “in perfect balance”, or “just right”. Where lagom reigns, all is as it should be. Proportion is maintained: there’s neither too much nor too little… which is where the problem lies. Although lagom encapsulates nearly all aspects of a well-lived life, its puritanism isn’t compatible with the realities of the modern world. The problem with lagom lies with its emphasis on being a good person: a good person can never really relax. They’re too busy constantly weighing the ethical consequences of every little decision they make. “I could buy a nice pot of hummus to enjoy with dinner, but that plastic pot it comes in is so bad for the environment.”</p><p>It’s not just Finnish folklore – it’s official foreign policy</p><p>A real pantsdrunk pro knows how to be their laid-back self</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/oct/07/how-the-finnish-liftestyle-of-getting-drunk-while-wearing-pants-became-the-new-hygge">Continue reading...</a>Life and stylePsychologyScienceHealth & wellbeingFinlandBooksCultureSun, 07 Oct 2018 05:00:06 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/oct/07/how-the-finnish-liftestyle-of-getting-drunk-while-wearing-pants-became-the-new-hyggeIllustration: Phil HackettIllustration: Phil HackettMiska Rantanen2018-10-07T05:00:06ZEthereal underworld: exploring Helsinki's colossal new art bunkerhttps://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/aug/27/helsinki-amos-rex-art-museum
<p>In a vast expanse beneath the Finnish capital lies a soaring circus-top culture hub. Will the €50m Amos Rex art museum put the city at the forefront of Europe’s art scene?</p><p>Bulging white mounds rear up out of the ground in the middle of Helsinki, tapering to circular windows that point like cyclopean eyes around the square. Children scramble up the steep slopes while a skateboarder attempts to glide down one, past a couple posing for a selfie at the summit.</p><p>This curious landscape of humps and funnels signals the arrival of <a href="https://amosrex.fi/en/">Amos Rex</a>, a €50m (£45m) art museum for the Finnish capital, which opens this week in a vast subterranean space beneath a former bus station parking lot.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/aug/27/helsinki-amos-rex-art-museum">Continue reading...</a>ArchitectureArt and designCultureFinlandMon, 27 Aug 2018 07:00:35 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/aug/27/helsinki-amos-rex-art-museumPhotograph: Mika HuismanPhotograph: Mika HuismanOliver Wainwright in Helsinki2018-08-27T07:00:35ZWould you welcome a wolf in your back yard?https://www.theguardian.com/global/2018/aug/26/eurasian-wolf-coming-back-to-europe
<p>The wolf is marching back into western Europe. Now it has reached the tiny Baltic islands of Aland. It is protected by EU law – but who’s protecting the locals? Patrick Barkham reports</p><p>Earlier this year, two unexpected guests crossed the sea to reach the largest of the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2014/aug/09/finland-family-breaks-aland-islands">Åland Islands</a>, an archipelago of 6,700 mostly tiny isles between Sweden and Finland. The long, hard winter had frozen the Baltic more extensively than for many a year. A daring few among 30,000 Åland islanders drove their cars over the ice to Finland. In the other direction came two or possibly three wolves.</p><p>Europe’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/26/harmless-or-vicious-hunter-the-uneasy-return-of-europes-wolves">most feared carnivore</a> was first seen padding over the sea ice by a ferry passenger in February. When islanders conducted their elk census during the March snows, they found wolf tracks heading west across the main island of Åland, a uniquely autonomous region of Finland. By the start of April a wolf had been sighted. By the end of the month, two were filmed together. In June a sheep was killed with ruthless precision, its skin covered in tooth marks – the work of a wolf, said experts. A few days later, a camera trap set over a carcass captured footage of the chief suspect returning to feed.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global/2018/aug/26/eurasian-wolf-coming-back-to-europe">Continue reading...</a>WildlifeAnimalsAnimal behaviourFinlandEnvironmentEuropeSun, 26 Aug 2018 11:00:11 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global/2018/aug/26/eurasian-wolf-coming-back-to-europePhotograph: Sergio Pitamitz/Getty Images/National Geographic CreativePhotograph: Sergio Pitamitz/Getty Images/National Geographic CreativePatrick Barkham2018-08-26T11:00:11ZNordic countries' 'happy' reputation masks sadness of young, says reporthttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/25/nordic-countries-happy-reputation-masks-sadness-of-young-says-report
<p><strong>Exclusive:</strong> Significant minority of young people in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland ‘struggling or suffering’</p><p>The Nordic countries top the polls as the happiest in the world, but the assumption that life in Scandinavia is all bicycles and big smiles disguises the sadness of a significant minority of young people, it has emerged.</p><p>Among those in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland who do not say that life is good, some of the largest numbers are among the young – and particularly young women. While the reasons will vary from one individual and one country to another, it is thought that stress, loneliness and feeling under pressure to succeed may be playing a large part in their unhappiness.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/feb/11/how-build-healthy-city-copenhagen-reveals-its-secrets-happiness">How do you build a healthy city? Copenhagen reveals its secrets</a> </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/25/nordic-countries-happy-reputation-masks-sadness-of-young-says-report">Continue reading...</a>Happiness indicesHealth & wellbeingWorld newsLife and styleMental healthHealthSocietyDenmarkNorwaySwedenEuropeIcelandFinlandScienceSat, 25 Aug 2018 07:00:37 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/25/nordic-countries-happy-reputation-masks-sadness-of-young-says-reportPhotograph: PeopleImages/Getty ImagesPhotograph: PeopleImages/Getty ImagesSarah Boseley Health editor2018-08-25T07:00:37Z'We're surrounded by people making things': Finland's artists-only villagehttps://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/aug/25/making-things-finland-artist-village
<p>What do you do when city life becomes unsustainable, yet you still want its creative buzz? Fiskars village could hold the answer</p><p>The Puukko family live in a simple 19th-century wooden house in the forest, just outside the village of Fiskars, in south-west Finland. It’s another fine summer’s day. The children are eating carrots they’ve just dug up from the garden, and waiting to swim in the lake at the end of the drive. Later that evening, their father, Tom, will take me to the village’s community sauna, a fairytale wooden hut, where we’ll parboil in the steam and cool in the lake and drink beer and eat <em>makkara</em> sausages like proper Finns, which neither of us are. Tom is British, his wife, Anne, is Finnish (he took her surname). In the past five years they have lived in London, Berlin and Helsinki. They moved to Fiskars a year ago and feel very much at home. I just feel envious.</p><p><a href="https://www.fiskarsvillage.fi/en/home">Fiskars</a> is an attractive place by any measure: leafy and picturesque, with a collection of handsome industrial buildings and workers’ cottages strung along a gentle river. But in British terms, it is more east London than Ambridge. It’s a 600-strong community of artists and craftspeople: sculptors, furniture makers, designers, painters, ceramicists, blacksmiths, architects, glass-blowers, jewellers, leather-workers, dressmakers, film-makers, you name it. The village artists’ cooperative, Onoma, has possibly the best-stocked local gift shop in the world. At this time of year, there is an art trail through the village, plus two <a href="https://www.fiskarsvillage.fi/en/see_and_do/events/fiskars-summer-house-exhibition">exhibitions</a> showing local and international work. There’s also a brewery, a <a href="https://www.agrasdistillery.com/">gin distillery</a> and a skate park. </p><p>Prices and taxes are higher in Finland, but the public services are the envy of the world, education is free</p><p>You have that space and quietness. Sometimes I just like to go and throw a ball to my dog in the yard in my underwear</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/aug/25/making-things-finland-artist-village">Continue reading...</a>FinlandWorld newsArt and designCultureCommunitiesSocietyLife and styleSat, 25 Aug 2018 06:00:39 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/aug/25/making-things-finland-artist-villagePhotograph: Juuso Westerlund for the GuardianPhotograph: Juuso Westerlund for the GuardianSteve Rose2018-08-25T06:00:39ZBack to the Futuro: the spaceship house that landed in Yorkshirehttps://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/aug/22/back-to-the-futuro-house-flying-saucer-matti-suuronen
<p>Dreamed up in Finland and shaped like a flying saucer, Matti Suuronen’s ‘house of the future’ turned out to be an impractical curio – but its atomic-age aesthetics are still alluring</p><p>Like jetpacks, flying cars and robot butlers, the Futuro was supposed to revolutionise the way we lived. Unlike those other staples of an imagined future, however, this architectural oddity actually existed. A colourful pod in the shape of an ellipse, the Futuro was a sci-fi vision of the future, offering us a living space light years away from what most of us were used to. Nicknamed the Flying Saucer and the UFO House, it was symbolic of the ambitious space-race era. But as the Futuro celebrates its 50th anniversary, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2012/may/10/futuro-ideal-home-wasnt">the revolution it promised clearly never happened</a>. Aficionados estimate that of the 100 or so made, only 68½ (more on the half later) remain.</p><p>One belongs to Craig Barnes, an artist based in London, who saw a Futuro in a “dishevelled and tired” state while on holiday in Port Alfred, South Africa. <a href="http://www.futurohouse.co.uk/">He decided to mount a rescue mission</a>. “I have family out there,” he says, “and I’d been seeing this Futuro since I was about three. I viewed it as a spaceship. I drove past in 2013 and workers were knocking down a garage next to it. I panicked and managed to trace the owner.”<br></p><p>Hundreds turned out to see the Futuro paraded through the streets. It looked as if locals had captured a spaceship</p><p>It's a wonderful space to bounce around ideas. Everything about it is a celebration of the imagination</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/aug/22/back-to-the-futuro-house-flying-saucer-matti-suuronen">Continue reading...</a>ArchitectureDesignHousingCultureSocial historyArt and designSocietyFinlandScience fiction booksWed, 22 Aug 2018 05:00:51 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/aug/22/back-to-the-futuro-house-flying-saucer-matti-suuronenPhotograph: James HarveyPhotograph: James HarveyMark Hodkinson2018-08-22T05:00:51ZUniversal basic income hasn’t made me rich. But my life is more enriching | Tuomas Murajahttps://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/07/universal-basic-income-rich-finland-work-benefits
Trying out the scheme in Finland pushed me to find better work opportunities. It beats a complicated benefits system<p>The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/23/finland-to-end-basic-income-trial-after-two-years">Finnish basic income trial</a>, of which I am part, finishes at the end of the year. Having been interviewed by nearly 70 separate media outlets, from the BBC to Le Figaro, the question I have been asked most often has been: how has the basic income trial changed my life? My answer is simple. In money terms, my life has not changed at all. However, the psychological effects of this human experiment have been transformative. I vastly prefer basic income to a benefits system fraught with complicated forms, mandatory courses and pointless obligations.</p><p>Before the trial, the risk of losing unemployment benefits and the cumbersome process of reapplying for them were an obstacle to accepting small job assignments. The bureaucracy involved made accepting some not worthwhile, or simply too risky.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/jun/27/benefit-or-burden-the-cities-trying-out-universal-basic-income">Benefit or burden? The cities trying out universal basic income</a> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p></p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/12/universal-basic-income-and-rewilding-can-meet-anthropocene-demands">How universal basic income and rewilding could save the planet | Simon Lewis and Mark Maslin</a> </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/07/universal-basic-income-rich-finland-work-benefits">Continue reading...</a>Universal basic incomeWork & careersFinlandMoneySocietyEuropeWorld newsTue, 07 Aug 2018 10:30:08 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/07/universal-basic-income-rich-finland-work-benefitsPhotograph: Maskot/Getty Images/MaskotPhotograph: Maskot/Getty Images/MaskotTuomas Muraja2018-08-07T10:30:08ZWhy do millions of Chinese people want to be 'spiritually Finnish'?https://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2018/aug/05/why-do-millions-of-chinese-people-want-to-be-spiritually-finnish
<p>A Finnish cartoon about a socially awkward stickman has become a hit in China – even inspiring a new word in Mandarin. Why has it struck such a chord?</p><p>Privacy is something of a luxury in China, a land with a population of 1.4 billion. Personal space is not a concept that ordinary Chinese are familiar with. Pushing and shoving is a basic survival skill in cities. If you fail to push with fellow commuters to get on a packed underground train, you’ll be met with impatient stares.</p><p>Privacy is also political: the concept of “private property” or “private space” was castigated in the Mao era as an evil of the bourgeois class – and this communist ideal is very much alive today. Throughout China, people are happy to lie down for a nap just about anywhere: in an office pantry, on a park bench, even in a museum or concert hall foyer, looking as comfortable as if the public space were their own living room.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2018/aug/05/why-do-millions-of-chinese-people-want-to-be-spiritually-finnish">Continue reading...</a>ChinaIllustrationPrivacyDesignCultureArt and designMao ZedongCommunismFinlandSun, 05 Aug 2018 15:00:12 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2018/aug/05/why-do-millions-of-chinese-people-want-to-be-spiritually-finnishPhotograph: Karoliina KorhonenPhotograph: Karoliina KorhonenVerna Yu2018-08-05T15:00:12Z10 of the best words in the world (that don't translate into English)https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/27/10-of-the-best-words-in-the-world-that-dont-translate-into-english
<p>As millions head abroad on holiday, our correspondents choose the words that for them speak volumes about the countries they love and live in</p><p>One of the many great things about languages worldwide is the sizeable number of words for which there is no real English translation. Often they tell us about concepts and ideas that we are missing out on in the anglophone world.<br></p><p>As the northern hemisphere heads abroad in the coming holiday season, here are a few to be looking out for:</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/27/10-of-the-best-words-in-the-world-that-dont-translate-into-english">Continue reading...</a>SpainLanguageWorld newsEuropePortugalItalyGermanyFinlandIranRussiaJapanNetherlandsChinaFri, 27 Jul 2018 10:55:20 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/27/10-of-the-best-words-in-the-world-that-dont-translate-into-englishPhotograph: Alamy Stock PhotoPhotograph: Alamy Stock PhotoGuardian correspondents2018-07-27T10:55:20ZWhite House urged to give full account of Trump's private talks with Putinhttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/19/donald-trump-putin-talks-helsinki-russia-white-house
<ul><li>Russian officials hail ‘important verbal agreements’ in Helsinki<br></li><li>Democrats: ‘Utterly amazing that no one knows what was said’<br></li></ul><p>The White House was under growing pressure on Thursday to provide a full account of Donald Trump’s private talks earlier this week with Vladimir Putin, as Russian officials spoke of “important verbal agreements” made.</p><p>As some Democrats went as far as to push for the US interpreter in the room during Monday’s summit in Helsinki to give an account to Congress, Putin on Thursday hailed the meeting as a “success”.</p><p>It seemed to me, my impression was, that the US side listened … with interest</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/19/would-or-wouldnt-how-trumps-claim-he-misspoke-unleashed-a-meme-fest">Would or wouldn't: how Trump's claim he misspoke unleashed a meme-fest</a> </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/19/donald-trump-putin-talks-helsinki-russia-white-house">Continue reading...</a>Donald TrumpVladimir PutinUS newsWorld newsRussiaEuropeFinlandTrump-Russia investigationThu, 19 Jul 2018 16:02:37 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/19/donald-trump-putin-talks-helsinki-russia-white-housePhotograph: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty ImagesPhotograph: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty ImagesEdward Helmore in New York2018-07-19T16:02:37Z'I shouldn’t have wasted my effort,' says man turfed out of Trump summithttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/18/activist-tells-of-detention-for-disrupting-trump-putin-summit
<p>Sam Husseini says he was held in ‘dungeon’ after trying to engage US leader on policies</p><p>Moments before <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/16/trump-finds-putin-denial-of-election-meddling-powerful">Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin began their startling press conference</a> on Saturday, Finnish police dragged a man in a suit and glasses who was holding a sign that read “Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty” from the hall.</p><p>But Sam Husseini, a contributor to the Nation magazine who was detained for almost six hours before being released without charge, wants to set the record straight: he wasn’t in Helsinki to mount a protest.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/18/summit-critics-trump-derangement-syndrome-putin">Summit critics have Trump derangement syndrome – says Trump</a> </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/18/activist-tells-of-detention-for-disrupting-trump-putin-summit">Continue reading...</a>FinlandEuropeWorld newsVladimir PutinDonald TrumpUS newsRussiaNon-proliferation treaty (NPT)Nuclear weaponsWed, 18 Jul 2018 12:49:55 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/18/activist-tells-of-detention-for-disrupting-trump-putin-summitPhotograph: Chris McGrath/Getty ImagesPhotograph: Chris McGrath/Getty ImagesAndrew Roth in Helsinki2018-07-18T12:49:55ZTrump-Putin meeting reactions: 'Russia is not our ally', says Paul Ryan – as it happenedhttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2018/jul/16/trump-putin-summit-helsinki-russia-live
<p>US president’s press conference with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki drew condemnation in the US</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/16/trump-finds-putin-denial-of-election-meddling-powerful"><strong>Full report: Trump ‘treasonous’ after siding with Putin on election meddling</strong></a><br></li></ul><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T18:52:20.111Z">7.52pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Donald Trump has left Finland for the US, bringing an end to a whirlwind day. </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/16/trump-finds-putin-denial-of-election-meddling-powerful">Trump condemned as treasonous after press conference with Putin</a> </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T18:51:40.637Z">7.51pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>The director of National Intelligence under Donald Trump, Dan Coats, released a statement in response to Trump’s summit with Putin today. Trump said today he has confidence in Russia and the US intelligence community. </p><p>“All I can do is ask the question - my people came to me, Dan Coats came to me and some others, they said they think it’s Russia,” Trump said. “I have President Putin he just said it’s not Russia. I will say this, I don’t see any reason why it would be but I really want to see the server but, I have confidence in both parties.” </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">STATEMENT FROM DAN COATS: "The role of the Intelligence Community is to provide the best information and fact-based assessments possible for the President and policymakers. We have been clear in our assessments of Russian meddling in the 2016 election..." <a href="https://t.co/X1DbEBVEMU">pic.twitter.com/X1DbEBVEMU</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T18:36:57.262Z">7.36pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Guardian foreign correspondent Luke Harding, who has reported extensively from Russia, analyzed the press conference, which he said is “one of the most astonishing ever.” </p><p><em>One of the big questions pre-summit was whether Trump would call for the extradition to the US of the 12 Russian spies indicted by Mueller. He didn’t. When the subject came up in the question and answer session Putin sought to throw the accusation back. He said he would investigate the report and even offered to “cooperate”. The Kremlin, he said, would allow Mueller’s team to visit Moscow and to question suspects. In return, however, it wanted access to Bill Browder, a US-born British financier who is a Kremlin bogeyman. Putin was well aware that Mueller’s investigators won’t be visiting Russian anytime soon. He extended a similar offer in 2006 to Scotland Yard following the radioactive murder of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/19/alexander-litvinenko-the-man-who-solved-his-own-murder">Alexander Litvinenko</a> using a cup of tea. The detectives who flew to Moscow found themselves in a PR pantomime, with their efforts to get evidence thwarted by the state.</em></p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/16/trump-beholden-to-putin-summit-does-nothing-to-dispel-impression">Trump beholden to Putin? Summit does nothing to dispel impression</a> </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T17:50:55.218Z">6.50pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>House speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican, said in a statement that the US must be “focused on holding Russia accountable.” Ryan said: </p><p><em>There is no question that Russia interfered in our election and continues attempts to undermine democracy here and around the world. That is not just the finding of the American intelligence community but also the House Committee on Intelligence. The president must appreciate that Russia is not our ally. There is no moral equivalence between the United States and Russia, which remains hostile to our most basic values and ideals. The United States must be focused on holding Russia accountable and putting an end to its vile attacks on democracy.</em></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T17:32:12.955Z">6.32pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Seconds before the press conference began, a man in the audience, Sam Husseini, was forcibly removed from the hall. More details are emerging about Husseini and the circumstances surrounding his removal. </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T17:19:14.646Z">6.19pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>More reaction from the US:</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">No negotiation is worth throwing your own people and country under the bus.</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just several days ago, 12 Russians were indicted for attacking our democracy. <br><br>Today, America's so-called leader embarrassingly failed to stand up to the person who spearheaded the attack. <br><br>Seriously, what does Putin have on Trump that's he's so afraid?</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Horrifying that <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> ends summits with brutal despots who menace our country with a warm embrace, and seemingly ends every interaction with our western allies in bitter discord.</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just saw the most depressing, disgusting, toadying, weak, moronic, lie-stuffed, and damn near traitorous public hour in the long history of the American Presidency. A dark day. 1/2</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T17:10:01.905Z">6.10pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T17:01:27.669Z">6.01pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Trump is on his way to the airport, set to fly back to Washington DC.</p><p>But first, he spoke with Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson, according to the White House pool. </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pres Trump departing Presidential Palace summit site in Helsinki. Heading for airport and flight home. <a href="https://t.co/UBkuaYrtMK">pic.twitter.com/UBkuaYrtMK</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T16:41:41.180Z">5.41pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>A brief recap of the press conference, which followed a working lunch and one-on-one meeting between Trump and Putin:</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T16:19:55.898Z">5.19pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>The US Senator from South Carolina has a warning about the football Putin gifted to Trump. </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Finally, if it were me, I’d check the soccer ball for listening devices and never allow it in the White House.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T16:10:55.252Z">5.10pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>We’ll post highlights from that extraordinary press conference momentarily. Meanwhile, some early reaction from the US:</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I continue to believe there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. But when Trump so easily and naively accepts Putin’s line about not being involved, I can understand why Ds think Putin must have the goods on him.</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Donald Trump’s press conference performance in Helsinki rises to &amp; exceeds the threshold of “high crimes &amp; misdemeanors.” It was nothing short of treasonous. Not only were Trump’s comments imbecilic, he is wholly in the pocket of Putin. Republican Patriots: Where are you???</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A person can be in favor of improving relations with Russia, in favor of meeting with Putin, and still think something is not right here.</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Anderson Cooper calls that press conference one of the most "disgraceful performances by an American president" ever.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T16:00:59.013Z">5.00pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Lemire, the AP journalist, now asks about Crimea, something neither of the men had yet mentioned in the press conference. </p><p>Putin says Trump “continues to maintain that it was illegal to annex it. Our viewpoint is different.”</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Asked if he has compromising material on Trump, Putin replies: "I did hear these rumours. When President Trump visited Moscow back then, I didn't even know he was in Moscow... Nobody informed me that he was in Moscow... Please disregard these issues."</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Putin DOES NOT DENY that he has compromising material on Trump. He merely says that Putin didn't know Trump was in Moscow.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T15:55:28.574Z">4.55pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>The AP’s Jonathan Lemire asks Trump to warn Putin never to intervene in a US election again in front of the cameras. </p><p>Trump speaks extensively about FBI servers and asks about Hillary Clinton’s emails. </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Trump on election interference: "President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today."</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Asked if he believes the intelligence agencies who concluded that Russia did meddle in the election or Putin who denies it, Trump brings up the DNC server. He later says of Russia, "I don’t see any reason why it would be. I really do want to see the server."</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Putin: The most recent allegation against 12 Russian officers. "Do send us the request. We will analyse it properly and we will send a formal response."</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T15:51:04.621Z">4.51pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Putin then gives Trump a ball from the World Cup. Trump says his son will like it and throws it into the audience - apparently to Melania. </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T15:49:55.034Z">4.49pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>An RT reporter asks Trump, in English, to go into details on any specific arrangements made today or discussed about intervention in Syria. </p><p>The reporter then moves to Russian to ask Putin about the country’s role there. </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Trump: "Our militaries have probably got along better than our political leaders for years."</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T15:47:23.040Z">4.47pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>“I wanted Trump to win because he spoke about normalizing Russian relations,” Putin said. </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Putin says he's willing to let Special Counsel Mueller make an official request that Russia interrogate those Russians indicted for election meddling in the US. But in exchange, says Russia would expect US to question Americans that Russia charges with illegal actions against it. <a href="https://t.co/RGibymEvbb">pic.twitter.com/RGibymEvbb</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T15:42:52.313Z">4.42pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Putin: "We have to be guided by facts, not by rumours." I don't know the full extent of the situation of the 12 indicted Russian military officers. President Trump mentioned it and I will look into it.</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Main takeaway so far: trump and Putin agree there was ‘no collusion’</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T15:41:11.067Z">4.41pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Reuters’ Jeff Mason then asked Putin to answer to claims Russia interfered in the 2016 election.</p><p>Trump responded to the reporter’s question for Putin for several minutes, including to defend, again, his election win. Then, Putin spoke. </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Putin: "We should be guided by facts. Can you name a single fact that would definitively prove collusion? This is nonsense."</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T15:38:06.205Z">4.38pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Jeff Mason, an American reporter for Reuters, asked about Trump’s tweet this morning that US “foolishness and stupidity” damaged the relationship between the US and Russia. </p><p>“I hold both countries responsible,” Trump says. “I think the United States has been foolish. I think we’ve all been foolish” </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T15:34:07.415Z">4.34pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>A reporter from Russia’s Interfax news agency asked about German’s plan to build the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. </p><p>Trump says Putin is a “good competitor.” </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/11/germany-and-russia-gas-links-trump-questions-europe-nord-stream2">Germany and Russia gas links: Trump is not only one to ask questions</a> </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T15:29:54.389Z">4.29pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Trump says the US and Russia “could save hundreds of thousands of lives” in Syria. </p><p>“This was a very constructive day, a very constructive few hours we spent together.” </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T15:28:23.454Z">4.28pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Trump says he addressed election interference. </p><p>“I thought it was best done in person,” Trump said. </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T15:26:14.651Z">4.26pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>“The disagreements between our two countries are well-known and president Putin and I discussed them at length today,” Trump says. </p><p>He says to address world problems the two countries are going to have to work together. </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Trump: "Our relationship has never been worse than it is now. However, that changed as of about four hours ago." (Some giggles in the room. Putin remains poker faced.)</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T15:23:21.410Z">4.23pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Trump is now speaking. </p><p>“We had direct, open, deeply productive dialogue. It went very well.” </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T15:21:50.666Z">4.21pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Putin said Trump raised the issue of Russian meddling in the US election. </p><p>“I had to repeat what I said earlier, including in personal meetings with the president, Russia never interfered and doesn’t plan to interfere in US domestic politics, including elections,” Putin said. </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T15:19:41.001Z">4.19pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>“The United States could be more decisive in nudging Ukrainian leadership,” Putin says. </p><p>“We agreed, me and president Trump, we agreed to put together a high-level working group” of Russia and and American businessmen, Putin says. </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T15:17:54.106Z">4.17pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Putin is discussing counterterrorism and cybersecurity. <br></p><p>Putin said Russia and US interests don’t always “dovetail,” but “the overlapping interests abound.” </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T15:14:06.493Z">4.14pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>The press conference is under way. </p><p>Putin begins. He says the Cold War is a thing of the past. </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T15:11:08.375Z">4.11pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>There was just a skirmish in the press conference hall and a man was removed from the room. </p><p>Security officials asked him to leave the room earlier, and he left peacefully, according to CNN’s Jim Acosta but then the man re-entered. </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">US Journalist from The Nation sitting next to me is being asked to go with secret service before start of news conf. Escorted out by Finnish security and US secret service #. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TrumpPutinSummit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TrumpPutinSummit</a> <a href="https://t.co/EunnupuCoV">pic.twitter.com/EunnupuCoV</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T15:00:47.226Z">4.00pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>The “two-minute” warning issued moments ago at the press briefing was ambitious. </p><p>It’s been more than ten minutes since the two-minute warning. </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T14:49:26.999Z">3.49pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Reporters have gathered for the press conference and were just warned it will begin in two minutes. </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Several American print reporters are on the floor for the presser. The rest of us are in the balcony. Nice view: <a href="https://t.co/roXBdtwoIb">pic.twitter.com/roXBdtwoIb</a></p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">At presidential palace awaiting Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. <a href="https://t.co/mVtJXas8PC">pic.twitter.com/mVtJXas8PC</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T14:32:53.248Z">3.32pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Trump, Putin and their aides gathered for lunch in the Hall of Mirrors, once the emperor’s throne room, following the one-on-one meeting.</p><p>That meeting lasted more than two hours, though the White House allotted 1.5 hours for the meeting in its schedule for Monday. </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It’s getting a bit chaotic as non-big US network TV crews get impatient. <a href="https://t.co/gE4GOunJel">pic.twitter.com/gE4GOunJel</a></p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/16/donald-trump-blames-us-witch-hunt-for-poor-putin-relations">Trump and Putin finish talks with no hint vote meddling was raised</a> </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T14:12:58.884Z">3.12pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>A former US defense secretary under Barack Obama, Chuck Hagel, said he was worried because there was not a clear “strategic purpose” for the one-on-one meeting between Trump and Putin. </p><p>“What is the point?” Hagel, a former republican senator, asked on Monday morning. <br></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T13:59:32.439Z">2.59pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Trump’s full quote after the one-on-one meeting: “I think it’s a good start. Very, very good start for everybody.”</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T13:45:58.143Z">2.45pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>White House pool reporter Annie Karni said Trump responded to one shouted question following his one-on-one meeting with Putin. Trump said the meeting was a “very good start,” per the pool report.</p><p>Karni said a White House spokesperson would not confirm that the meeting lasted two hours and ten minutes, as others are reporting. </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">After their one-on-one meeting, Presidents Trump and Putin and delegation members sat down to lunch in the Hall of Mirrors. Asked how their meeting went, "very good start," said Pres Trump. (Pool photo by <a href="https://twitter.com/anniekarni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@anniekarni</a>) <a href="https://t.co/KVhwNhihob">pic.twitter.com/KVhwNhihob</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T13:34:06.987Z">2.34pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>CNN are showing footage of Trump and Putin sitting down for a very late lunch flanked by six aides each. </p><p>As expected on Trump’s side were US ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman; US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo; White House chief of staff, John Kelly; national security adviser, John Bolton; and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/russia">Russia</a> expert and Trump adviser, Fiona Hill.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T13:26:37.801Z">2.26pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>It’s just 4.25pm in Helsinki and the two leaders still haven’t had lunch, as the Putin-Trump one-to-one meeting goes into its third hour.</p><p>White House pool reporter Tessa Berenson has this update: </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pool was just informed Trump and Putin’s 1:1 meeting is still going, meaning it’s pushing 2 hours</p><p>At 4 pm, we were herded into a coat check area to clear the way for the exit of the President of Finland.</p><p>He had been here to welcome the two visiting leaders — he welcomed Putin first, earlier today, and then Trump when he arrived.</p><p>Now that he’s gone, we’re back on the patio awaiting lunch to start. </p><p>The White House said lunch might be later and that it will let us know how long the one-on-one lasted.<br></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T13:16:36.162Z">2.16pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/china">China</a> has filed a complaint against the US at the World Trade Organization after Donald Trump’s threats to place tariffs on an additional $200bn (£150bn) worth of Chinese goods.</p><p>The one-sentence announcement by the ministry of commerce comes less than a week after <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/11/us-to-impose-tariffs-on-200bn-of-chinese-imports">the US president called for a second round of tariffs</a> on China, in retaliation for Chinese tariffs placed on American goods.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/jul/16/china-files-complaint-to-wto-over-trump-tariff-plan">China files complaint to WTO over Trump's $200bn tariff plan</a> </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T13:12:38.908Z">2.12pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>The Putin Trump tete-a-tete has been going on for almost two hours, an Finnish official told AP. It had been expected to last for 90 minutes at most. Extra time and penalties? </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Per Finnish official: Trump-Putin one-on-one meeting still ongoing, approaching two hours</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T13:06:55.986Z">2.06pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>There have been more anti-Trump and anti-Putin protests in Helsinki, with some dressed as Margaret Atwood-inspired handmaids demanding the release of members of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/15/pussy-riot-claim-responsibility-world-cup-final-pitch-invasion">Pussy Riot who were arrested on Sunday after invading the pitch at the World Cup final in Moscow</a>. </p><p> Abortion-rights activists dressed up Monday in bulging bellies and Trump masks. Anti-fascist protesters carried signs with expletive-laden insults. Free traders, anti-war Ukrainians, environmentalists and rainbow flag-waving gay rights supporters all vied for attention from the world’s media.</p><p> In a city proud to defend the right to protest, demonstrators were scattered about. Some stayed at barriers erected by police to try to register their complaints as the world leaders sped by in armor-plated vehicles for their summit at Finland’s presidential palace.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T12:55:38.003Z">1.55pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Here’s what Putin wants to talk about, according to the Russian embassy in the US: “ways to normalise bilateral relations, as well as current international issues, primarily the situation in Ukraine, Syria and the Korean Peninsula, and the fight against terrorism.”</p><p>None of these issues were mentioned by Trump in his opening remarks. </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump will discuss ways to normalise bilateral relations, as well as current international issues, primarily the situation in Ukraine, Syria and the Korean Peninsula, and the fight against terrorism. <a href="https://t.co/msuboPmAdA">pic.twitter.com/msuboPmAdA</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T12:50:58.657Z">1.50pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Michael McFaul, former US ambassador to Russia, was not impressed by Trump’s opening remarks to Putin. </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">No previous President of the United States of America has ever spoken like this about relations with Russia. Ever. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BAF?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BAF</a>. Blame America First. <a href="https://t.co/R1VHt84NJy">https://t.co/R1VHt84NJy</a></p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“Improved relations” with Russia or any other country should never be the goal of American foreign policy. Instead , concrete objectives need to be defined, and then strategies for pursuing them - engagement, containment, isolation — need to be implemented.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T12:47:36.099Z">1.47pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Reluctant body language is on show in a black and white image of Trump and Putin tweeted by White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders. </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> and President Putin sit down for one on one meeting in Helsinki, Finland. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HELSINKI2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HELSINKI2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/ov0dSnafYB">pic.twitter.com/ov0dSnafYB</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T12:41:15.541Z">1.41pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>The BBC’s Stuart Hughes spotted a cuff-tickling handshake. </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It could be just the angle of the photo but President Trump appears from this <a href="https://twitter.com/Reuters?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Reuters</a> photo to be touching Vladimir Putin's shirt cuff. Strange? Checking the cotton thread count, perhaps? <a href="https://t.co/4ddqh7CJNE">pic.twitter.com/4ddqh7CJNE</a></p><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Helsinki?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Helsinki</a>: Vladimir Putin's meeting with Donald Trump <a href="https://t.co/59EAId0h2P">https://t.co/59EAId0h2P</a> <a href="https://t.co/GonICs0bvU">pic.twitter.com/GonICs0bvU</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T12:36:43.244Z">1.36pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>White House pool reporter Annie Karni, has more on what we’re waiting for. </p><p>Since the one-on-one meeting between Trump and Putin started, the pool has been waiting in a non-air-conditioned, steamy conference room in the presidential palace on the first floor. On the menu for lunch is hot soup.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T12:23:17.877Z">1.23pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>The White House has confirmed that Putin and Trump will hold another bilateral meeting with more aides present after their tete-a-tete. There will also be a joint press conference.</p><p>The joint press conference had been due to take place at around 4.50pm local time, (2.50pm BST).</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Happening Now: President Trump has a 1:1 bilateral meeting with President Putin. Later they will hold an expanded bilateral meeting and a joint press conference.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T12:14:16.554Z">1.14pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Donald Trump has dealt a fresh blow to hopes that he will confront the Russian president, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/vladimir-putin">Vladimir Putin</a>, over election interference as they met on Monday, blaming his own country rather than Moscow for poor diplomatic relations.</p><p>Apparently dismissing the cold war, when the superpowers stood on the brink of all-out nuclear war, the US president wrote on Twitter: “Our relationship with <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/russia">Russia</a> has NEVER been worse thanks to many years of U.S. foolishness and stupidity and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt!”</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/16/donald-trump-blames-us-witch-hunt-for-poor-putin-relations">Donald Trump blames US 'witch-hunt' for poor Putin relations</a> </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T11:49:08.890Z">12.49pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Sky’s Mark Stone spotted an interesting Trump wink amidst the awkward body language. </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Very awkward body language... but <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> did offer Vladimir Putin a wink. <a href="https://twitter.com/SkyNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SkyNews</a> <a href="https://t.co/mQur4dzReI">pic.twitter.com/mQur4dzReI</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T11:47:51.618Z">12.47pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T11:33:58.284Z">12.33pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Trump and Putin are currently participating in their one-to-one meeting with only translators in the room, according to the White House pool reporter. </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T11:32:35.699Z">12.32pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Here’s a transcript of what Trump said to Putin:<br></p><p>First of all Mr President I’d like to congratulate you on a really great World Cup. One of the best ever from what everybody tells me and also for your team, itself, doing so well. </p><p>I watched quite a bit and in the United States we call it soccer and I watched quite a bit of it and I watched the entire final and the semi-finals and they were really spectacular games, but it was beautifully done so congratulations on that.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T11:15:33.767Z">12.15pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Putin and Trump close with a handshake that lasted about three seconds. Both men looked tense, they didn’t smile much. </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">No questions taken from reporters. Now, a 90 minute one-on-one meeting between Trump &amp; Putin <a href="https://t.co/PkXibkAl0Y">pic.twitter.com/PkXibkAl0Y</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T11:14:16.962Z">12.14pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Trump and Putin are posing for the cameras at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki. </p><p>Putin says it is a pleasure to meet Trump. Trump congratulates Putin on the World Cup and on Russia’s performance in the tournament. “I watched quite a bit of it ... it was beautifully done,” Trump says. </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T11:02:40.504Z">12.02pm <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>AP sets out what is due to happen next:</p><p>President Donald Trump has arrived at Finland’s Presidential Palace for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.</p><p> Putin arrived minutes earlier at the palace in Helsinki for the summit, which consists of a one-on-one meeting and a larger working lunch, and will conclude with a joint news conference.</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump has arrived at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland for his meeting with President Putin.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T10:59:19.751Z">11.59am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Trump arrived at the presidential palace at 1.57pm local time almost an hour after the summit was due to begin. </p><p>Both Trump and Putin are in the building.</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a>: Both Pres. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Trump?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Trump</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Russia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Russia</a>'s Vladimir <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Putin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Putin</a> have arrived at Presidential Palace in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Helsinki?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Helsinki</a> for summit between two leaders <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HelsinkiSummit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HelsinkiSummit</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LiveDesk?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LiveDesk</a> <a href="https://t.co/z5pA0jKmvc">pic.twitter.com/z5pA0jKmvc</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T10:57:08.347Z">11.57am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>TV footage shows images of Trump’s motorcade, including the famous “beast” limo, is on the way to the presidential palace where the summit will take place. </p><p>The motorcade left at 1.37pm local time (11.37pm BST) according to White House pool reporter Annie Karni. </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The second Trump convoy is comically large, it doesn't fit in a single camera frame. <a href="https://t.co/9HTNdF1Sd8">pic.twitter.com/9HTNdF1Sd8</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T10:52:12.381Z">11.52am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Trump is reported to be on his way to the presidential palace. Mark Knoller, from CBS, sets out what to expect next. </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Now that Putin has arrived, Pres Trump is on his way to the Presidential Palace. There'll be a guest book signing and official welcome. Also a photo op at the start of the one-on-one meeting with Putin.</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Some theories on the power politics taking place right now. Putin arrives late but still first and could be seen as welcoming Trump to the presidential palace. Trump counters by sending a massive advance convoy in Mercedes. Still waiting for Trump himself to set off.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T10:39:12.272Z">11.39am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Putin’s motorcade has arrived late at the presidential palace in Helsinki for the summit. There’s been no sign yet of Trump. He now appears to be trying to make Putin wait. </p><p>There’s lots of this macho stuff: Putin’s limo is slightly bigger than Trump’s.</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">And now Putin has arrived at the presidential palace in Helsinki. <a href="https://t.co/hZCHuItXsf">pic.twitter.com/hZCHuItXsf</a></p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Putin adjusts his suit jacket after limo ride in from the airport, and entering Presidential Palace summit site. <a href="https://t.co/kI8zktVtuo">pic.twitter.com/kI8zktVtuo</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T10:31:17.987Z">11.31am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Russia’s foreign ministry says it agrees with Trump’s dire assessment that US-Russia relations have never been worse.</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We agree <a href="https://t.co/7l087Qwmj3">https://t.co/7l087Qwmj3</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T10:18:54.969Z">11.18am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>White House pool reporter Annie Karni, confirms that Trump has delayed leaving the Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa, en route to the Presidential Palace. </p><p>He was due to depart at 12.40 local time (10.40 BST).</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T10:15:04.834Z">11.15am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Putin briskly stepped off his plane, before being greeted on the tarmac. He took of his jacket and waved for the cameras. And then got into his huge new limo. </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">He's here: <a href="https://t.co/WRGGzEkXNu">pic.twitter.com/WRGGzEkXNu</a></p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Summit was set to begin 11 minutes ago, but leaders are not at the palace yet. It appears Putin is holding up Trump. Keeping people waiting is the Russian president’s MO to assert dominance.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T10:09:44.975Z">11.09am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>The diplomatic gamesmanship continues.</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump and Melania were scheduled to leave their hotel 26 minutes ago. Pool says they are still waiting, presumably on Putin. <a href="https://t.co/uHI4yIU4Nu">https://t.co/uHI4yIU4Nu</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T10:03:07.758Z">11.03am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Vladimir Putin’s plane has touched down in the Helsinki almost an hour late.</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Putin is running a bit late, but he's arrived here in Helsinki. <a href="https://t.co/JROj8ou7HT">pic.twitter.com/JROj8ou7HT</a></p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wondering how Donald Trump stacks up on being made to wait by Putin?Putin is current about 55 minutes late landing in Helsinki, taking him past Pope Francis (50 mins) and approaching Modi (1 hour). Things get bad at Lukashenka (3 hours) and Merkel (4 hours 15 min). <a href="https://t.co/zyfvYazsjk">pic.twitter.com/zyfvYazsjk</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T10:00:36.517Z">11.00am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman says he hopes the summit will be a “baby step” toward fixing exceptionally bad US-Russian relations, AP reports. </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T09:56:00.309Z">10.56am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>The United States is not the only side complaining about cyberattacks ahead of Monday’s summit.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T09:52:51.874Z">10.52am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Putin’s trip to Helsinki marks the first foreign trip for the Russian president’s new Cortege limousine, which was unveiled with great fanfare at his inauguration in May. <br></p><p>The Kremlin pool reporter for Komsomolskaya Pravda, Dmitry Smirnov, snapped a picture of the limousine at Helsinki’s airport where Putin is expected to land more than 45 minutes late.<br><br></p><p lang="ru" dir="ltr">Первый зарубежный выезд «Кортежа»: Лимузин ждет Путина в аэропорту Хельсинки <a href="https://t.co/akgrQmaIJJ">pic.twitter.com/akgrQmaIJJ</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T09:50:29.291Z">10.50am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Putin’s lateness is being interpreted as diplomatic gamesmanship. Speaking to CNN while we still wait for Putin’s plane to land in Helsinki, Thomas Pickering, former US ambassador to the UN, said:</p><p>Obviously the lateness is something he could have avoided, so it has some intent. That intent obviously is in some ways to level the playing field of publicity about this meeting so that it isn’t all Trump, whatever he’s saying.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T09:36:36.455Z">10.36am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Newspaper billboards in Helsinki attack the record of both Putin and Trump on free speech. </p><p>Helsingin Sanomat, one of the country’s top news outlets, unveiled nearly 300 billboards calling out the leaders’ respective records of rocky relations with the media. The billboards were placed along the leaders’ route to the summit.</p><p>Aside from the welcome billboard which reads “Mr. President, Welcome to the Land of Free Press,” most of the others feature headlines published in the newspaper over the years, according to a <a href="https://www.hs.fi/media/FreePress/Freepress%202018.html">press release</a>.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T09:27:11.682Z">10.27am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Putin already has the edge in pre-summit posturing by keeping Trump waiting. His plane to Helsinki is reported to be running late.</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Looks like Putin will keep Trump waiting. He’s landing about 45 minutes late at 5:47 EST, just about the time he was supposed to be arriving at the Presidential Palace. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HelsinkiSummit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HelsinkiSummit</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T09:19:54.046Z">10.19am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>European Council president Donald Tusk has suggested that Trump is spreading fake news by<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/15/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-helsinki-russia-indictments"> telling CBS that the European Union is a foe of the US</a>.</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">America and the EU are best friends. Whoever says we are foes is spreading fake news.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T09:14:55.678Z">10.14am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Trump is confident of getting on with Putin, he told Piers Morgan for ITV’s Good Morning Britain on board air force one.</p><p>Trump accepted that Putin “probably is” a ruthless person, but couldn’t tell yet. </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">'I don’t know him… I met him a couple of times… I think we could probably get along very well'<br><br>President Trump confessed to <a href="https://twitter.com/GMB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GMB</a> he didn’t know Vladimir Putin well. <a href="https://t.co/zQ3GEqre55">pic.twitter.com/zQ3GEqre55</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T08:39:17.848Z">9.39am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Russia’s foreign ministry liked Trump’s tweeted about the dire state of US-Russian relations, notes Amie Ferris-Rotman from the Washington Post. </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Look who liked this tweet. That sets the tone for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HelsinkiSummit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HelsinkiSummit</a> <a href="https://t.co/fHM0zCpKBO">pic.twitter.com/fHM0zCpKBO</a></p><p>Trump is facing immense pressure to aggressively confront Putin over Russia’s election interference, especially after the Justice Department indicted 12 Russian intelligence officials last Friday and charged them with hacking and stealing Democratic emails, as part of a broad subterfuge operation that U.S. intelligence agencies believe was ordered by Putin to help elect Trump.</p><p>But Trump’s comments Monday were in sync with the argument Putin and his government have long made, which is that the policies of the Obama administration — as well as the investigation into election interference, which Putin repeatedly has denied — inflamed tensions between the to nuclear superpowers.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T08:36:09.471Z">9.36am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>The White House has issued a transcript of Trump’s remarks about last week’s Nato summit during his breakfast meeting in Helsinki with his Finnish counterpart.</p><p>It quotes him saying: </p><p>Nato has, I think, never been stronger. And it was really – it was a little bit tough at the beginning, and it turned out to be love. It really was a great meeting that we had and brought everybody together, and, I think, very worthwhile ...</p><p>We had a fantastic meeting a few days ago; some of you were there. It was a very successful meeting. I think Nato has never been more together. People are now agreeing to pay, and we were having a lot of problem with a lot of people not paying, as the President will tell you. And they’re paying, and they’re paying more rapidly. And I think Nato has probably never been stronger than it is today. </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T08:30:06.593Z">9.30am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Hillary Clinton has questioned Trump’s loyalty to the US in a barbed tweet ahead of the summit.</p><p>Tweeting after the World Cup final when Putin oversaw a thrilling final between France and Croatia, she said: “Great World Cup. Question for President Trump as he meets Putin: Do you know which team you play for?”</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Great World Cup. Question for President Trump as he meets Putin: Do you know which team you play for?</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T08:16:51.519Z">9.16am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>One of Putin’s most vocal opponents, Garry Kasparov, says Trump has already given in to Russia by agreeing to the summit.</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Putin would like normalization of relations &amp; lifting of all sanctions, but knows that's too much too soon, and increasingly out of Trump's hands. He'll get more chaos &amp; division, talk token pseudo-concessions, peace for our time BS. Lots of photos, posturing.</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Meanwhile, all the US needs from Putin is to NOT give him those things, to not enable him but to deter him. We will see if Trump wants what the US needs this time. Gifting Putin this summit is already a failure.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T07:57:03.993Z">8.57am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Greenpeace activists have attached a banner about global warning on Helsinki’s Kallio Church to coincide with the summit. “Warm out hearts not our planet”, the banner pleaded. </p><p>Protesters came out on Sunday to attack both Trump and Putin before the<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/14/will-putin-use-his-good-cop-bad-cop-routine-in-summit-with-trump"> summit</a>.</p><p>“Not welcome,” read one sign, held by Hemmo Siponen, showing a cartoon of Trump and Putin embracing. “Fuck you both,” read another carried by two young women.</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">More protestors at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HelsinkiSummit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HelsinkiSummit</a> <a href="https://t.co/wDPAjiNVdU">pic.twitter.com/wDPAjiNVdU</a></p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/15/not-welcome-finnish-protesters-criticise-trump-putin-summit">'Not welcome': Finnish protesters criticise Trump-Putin summit</a> </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T07:52:44.457Z">8.52am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Trump has left the Mäntyniemi Residence, where he had a breakfast meeting with the President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö. </p><p>TV footage showed Trump waving to reporters as he left. Next up is the one-to-one meeting with Vladimir Putin. </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Breakfast with <a href="https://twitter.com/niinisto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@niinisto</a> has ended. <a href="https://t.co/BtPDrfIRS2">pic.twitter.com/BtPDrfIRS2</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T07:43:35.998Z">8.43am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Ahead of the Helsinki summit, the European council president, Donald Tusk, has warned that it is the responsibility of the major powers to uphold rules-based order, not destroy it and pave the way to war.</p><p>Speaking at an EU-China summit in Beijing, Tusk said:</p><p> “Today, on the same day as Europe meets China in Beijing, American President Trump and Russian President Putin will talk in Helsinki, we are all aware of the fact that the architecture of the world is changing before our very eyes. And it is our common responsibility to make it a change for the better. </p><p>Let us remember, here in Beijing, and over there, in Helsinki, that the world we were building for decades, sometimes through disputes, has brought about peace for Europe, the development of China, and the end of the Cold War between the East and the West.”</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/16/donald-tusk-calls-on-europe-china-us-and-russia-to-prevent-global-chaos">Donald Tusk calls on Europe, China, US​​ and Russia to 'prevent global chaos'</a> </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T07:40:36.779Z">8.40am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p><em>White House reporter Annie Karni reports from the Hilton Kalastajatorppa in Helsinki: </em></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T07:13:15.876Z">8.13am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>Trump is having breakfast with the president of Finland where he described the Nato summit as “tough” at first “but it turned out to be love”. </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2018-07-16T07:07:17.206Z">8.07am <span class="timezone">BST</span></time> </p><p>President Donald Trump has arrived in Helsinki for his high-stakes summit with Vladimir Putin and has already fired off a series of bombastic tweets. </p><p>He said America’s relationship with Russia has never been worse thanks to “many years of US foolishness and stupidity” and the current investigation into Russian meddling in the US election, which he again dismissed as a “rigged witch hunt”.</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our relationship with Russia has NEVER been worse thanks to many years of U.S. foolishness and stupidity and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt!</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Obama thought that Crooked Hillary was going to win the election, so when he was informed by the FBI about Russian Meddling, he said it couldn’t happen, was no big deal, &amp; did NOTHING about it. When I won it became a big deal and the Rigged Witch Hunt headed by Strzok!</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Received many calls from leaders of NATO countries thanking me for helping to bring them together and to get them focused on financial obligations, both present &amp; future. We had a truly great Summit that was inaccurately covered by much of the media. NATO is now strong &amp; rich!</p><p>Within hours of arriving in Europe, Donald Trump was busy insulting America’s closest friends and threatening to dismember Nato. He publicly humiliated Theresa May and did his importunate best to force regime change in Westminster, before halfheartedly apologising. Now he takes his ugly brand of rogue-male politics to Helsinki for a meeting with his best buddy, prominent campaign supporter and fellow narcissist, Russia’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/vladimir-putin">Vladimir Putin</a>. This is an ominous, possibly watershed moment for Europe, full of fear and loathing.</p><p>Putin brings <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/14/will-putin-use-his-good-cop-bad-cop-routine-in-summit-with-trump">experience, preparation, ruthless discipline and actual goals</a>: he is the poker ace facing a man who has mastered only beggar-my-neighbour. So any substantive discussions between the men may be more worrying than the omissions. (Only Mr Trump could make the prospect of “surprising” outcomes in Helsinki sound quite so ominous.) Their shared hostility to Nato, the EU and established US alliances is alarming. And we do not know why Mr Trump wants this meeting, beyond enjoying the spotlight.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2018/jul/16/trump-putin-summit-helsinki-russia-live">Continue reading...</a>Donald TrumpRussiaVladimir PutinEuropeUS newsWorld newsFinlandNatoUkraineSyriaIranNuclear weaponsMon, 16 Jul 2018 18:52:20 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2018/jul/16/trump-putin-summit-helsinki-russia-livePhotograph: Yuri Kadobnov/AFP/Getty ImagesPhotograph: Yuri Kadobnov/AFP/Getty ImagesAmanda Holpuch (now) and Matthew Weaver (earlier)2018-07-16T18:52:20ZThe Trump-Putin statesman show soon turns knockabouthttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/16/the-trump-putin-statesman-show-soon-turns-knockabout
<p>The leaders’ diplomatic veneer quickly wore off at an at times farcical press conference</p><p>At Monday’s summit in Helsinki, two leaders not known for their love of diplomacy both tried out an act as elder statesmen, trading lofty phrases about shared interests and respect that could turn around the troubled relations between Russia and the United States. </p><p>The shtick lasted about a half hour before Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin’s political instincts took over and their first official summit press conference descended into farce. </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/16/trump-putin-latest-news-updates-republicans-democrat-response-treason">Trump’s surrender to Putin greeted with outrage by Democrats and Republicans</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/16/trump-beholden-to-putin-summit-does-nothing-to-dispel-impression">Trump beholden to Putin? Summit does nothing to dispel impression</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/16/the-guardian-view-on-the-trump-putin-summit-russia-is-the-winner">The Guardian view on the Trump-Putin summit: Russia is the winner | Editorial</a> </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/16/the-trump-putin-statesman-show-soon-turns-knockabout">Continue reading...</a>Donald TrumpVladimir PutinUS foreign policyRussiaWorld newsUS newsTrump administrationFinlandMon, 16 Jul 2018 18:48:38 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/16/the-trump-putin-statesman-show-soon-turns-knockaboutPhotograph: SPUTNIK/ReutersPhotograph: SPUTNIK/ReutersAndrew Roth in Helsinki2018-07-16T18:48:38ZMartin Rowson on the Trump-Putin summit in Helsinki – cartoonhttps://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2018/jul/16/martin-rowson-on-the-trump-putin-summit-in-helsinki-cartoon
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2018/jul/16/martin-rowson-on-the-trump-putin-summit-in-helsinki-cartoon">Continue reading...</a>Donald TrumpVladimir PutinWorld newsUS newsFinlandUS foreign policyRussiaUS politicsTrump administrationMon, 16 Jul 2018 17:21:31 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2018/jul/16/martin-rowson-on-the-trump-putin-summit-in-helsinki-cartoonIllustration: Martin RowsonIllustration: Martin RowsonMartin Rowson2018-07-16T17:21:31Z